Manufacture of coal-gas.



A. WADDELL.

MANUFACTURE OF COAL GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. ISIS. I 1,249,864. Patented 1m 11,1917.

3 inlets-suit? I;

A. WADDELL.

MANUFACTURE OF COAL GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB, 29. me.

1,249,864. PatentedDec. 11,1917;

I 3 SHEET$SHEET 2.

"141' fomvb' A. WADUELL. MANUFACTURE OF COAL GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. 1916.

1,249,864. Patented Dec. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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flrromrsr ALEXANDER WADDELL, 0F DUNFERMLINE, SCOTLAND.

MANUFACTURE OF COAL EAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'latci'itctl Ucc. 11.1, 191. 7

Application filed Fcbruarv 29, 1916. Serial No. 81,108.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, ALEXANDER VADDELL, a subject ot the King of theUnited Kingdoni of Great Britain and lreland. and 1e siding atDuufcrmline, Fitesliire. Scotland, ha e invented a certain new anduseful Improi'cinent in the Manufacture of Coal-Gas, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for the manufactureof coal The process as practised may consist of either of the followingcombinations of steps:-

(1) Passing the coal downward through a retort, subjecting the coal tocarbonization in the retort while so regulating the heating action thatthe temperature at which carbonization is eifected is progressivelyincreased from the upper endot the retort downward, repeatedly changingthe direction while contracting the cross-secti nal area of thedesounding mass toward the lower end of the retort, the changing oftiated before the hottest Zone is reached. dis charging the coke at thelower end of the re tort, and withdrawing the gas at the. upper end ofthe retort and bringing the gas into contact with the entering coal.whereby tar may be condensed and returned to the retort with thedescending coal for carbonization therewith. Or,

(2) Passing coal downward through a retort, subjecting the coal tocarbonization in the retort while so regulating the heating action thatthe temperature at which carbonization is effected is progressivelyincreased from the upper end of the retort downward, repeatedly changingthe direction and at the same time contracting the cross-sectional areaof the descending mass toward the lower end of the retort, the changingof direction being initiated before the hottest zone is reached andwithdrawing gas freed from tar as far as may be at a point toward. thelower end of the retort.

The construction of retort employed consists of a vertical upper sectionand an inclined lower section comprising subsections inclined inopposite directions, both of such sub-sections being heated.

direction being inip The invention thus provides a constructron whereincompletion of the carbonizae tion initiated in the vertical section. ofthe retort is effected by reason of the selection of the inclination ofthe lower section so as to effect. sufiicient change of direction of thematerial passing through the retort, and by reason of the large area ofthe inclined sur face exposed to heating action.

It is understood, of course, that conse qucnt on each change ofdirection of the de scending mass the uncarbonized or partly carbonizedcore is brought in part at least to the exterior of the charge in theretort so that more complete or more rapid carbonization of the chargeis effected. Whether the tar which has been condensed out adheres to thecoal, or runs down the comparatively cold uncarbonizcd core in thevertical scetion it must at least come into contact with a suflicientextent of the heated sloping surface to carbonize it, avoiding therunning out of tar from the lower mouth piece.

A subordinate feature of the invention consists in an improvedconstruction of regenerator comprising individually removable uprighttubes fitted into upper and lower tube-sheets- In the accomphnyingdrawin there is illustrated a construction embodying theinvention andcomprising several retorts, it bein understood that the improvements areequally applicable to single retorts.

Figure 1 is a vertical'section on the line CC of Fig. 2. Fig. 2comprises a vertical section on the line AA of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4Care vertical sections at right angles to each other and Fig. 5 a planshowing the improved construction of regenerator.

It is understood that the vertical sections 1 are heated externally bythe combustion of gas supplied from a producer or producers 2.

The retorts proper rest on the arches 3 which also form the roofs of theproducers. The arches 3 are formed with a. number of ports 4 throughwhich pass. the producer gases which are mixed with air in varioussections of the lines and ignited to heat the retort as desired.

At the lower end of the vertical sections 1 is disposed at flue 7 ofpentagonal form in section, through which flue heating gases are led,the sides of the flue being spaced from the walls and floors of theretort so as to form at the lower end of each vertical retort section asection comprising oppositel inclined sub-sections 6 and 6 heated a 1around by combustion of producer gas as above described, thecross-sectional area of the passage being contracted with the change indirection.

Normally closed openings 10 in the retort walls permit access forstirring or poking the charge.

Exterior to, and alongside, the producers 2 is a chamber 11 into whichthe hot coke is withdrawn, part of the coke pushed along a chute from 15and 16 to the producer 2; the remainder being cooled by steam within thechamber 11.

This arrangement permits of the removal of the coke in trucks travelingon a single set of rails.

Gas off-takes are shown at 12, 13 and 14. The gas is taken off at itwhen it is desired to employ the process first above described, Whilegas is taken off at 12 when the second process is to be performed. Themost usual position for the gas off-take in a vertical retort is at 13.

The charging hopper forming an extension of the upper end of each retortis or may be so dimensioned as to be capable of holding a charge of coalof a capacity sufficient to effect condensation of tar.

The regenerator shown comprises vertical tubes 15 preferably ofpolygonal section, for example, of square or diamond section, insertedin tube sheets 16 and 17 fitted in a flue 18 surrounding the retortstructure and constitutes a heat exchanger for transference to thecombustion-supporting air of part of the heat which would otherwise beconducted by the flue gases to the chimney.

In order that the tubes 15 may be readily accessible and capable ofconvenient inscrtion. replacement or renewal without interruption of theoperation of the regenerator, I employ a large number of individuallyremovable tubes of small size, and in single lengths, and thereforereadily portable, which are held in the lube sheets 16 and 17 without.any permanent joint, being simply inserted in orifices of thetube-sheets. i\. cover 19 is fitted above the upper tube-sheet 16 so asto be readily removable, a sufficient free space being left forinspection removal and renewal or replacement of tubes or for the repairof the sheets constituting the interior Walls or upper and lower floorsof the regenerator.

' To avoid loss of heat by radiation. the outside walls of theregcncrator may be jacketed and the air passed through the jacket on itsway to the regenerator.

The air to be heated, being practically free from matter liable to bedeposited, may be passed through the tubes, the direction of flow beingindicated by arrows in full lines, the flue gases bein led around theexterior of the tubes as in icated by dotted arrows; but the conversearrangement may be adopted.

To prevent formation of lanes the tubes are preferably disposed instaggered relationship as shown.

Columns 20 serve as supports for the tube sheets and as baflies fordiverting the flow of the flue gases.

Before insertion, plastic jointing may be applied to the lower end ofeach tube, which is then passed through a slip socket in the upper tubesheet 16 and entered in a stop socket in the lower sheet 17, the plasticjointing being pressed between the lower end of the tube and the stopend of the socket, sand or other dry jointing material being then runthrough perforations in the bottom of the upper socket to fill up thevacant space and form a oint in the lower socket.

The upper joint may be formed by asbestos rope or the like covering theperforations in the bottom of the upper socket, the residual space beingfilled with dry jointing material.

It will be seen that the joints may be conveniently formed in situ andthat any and every tube may be conveniently withdrawn and replacedwithout stopping the operation of the regenerator.

What I claim is 1. A process of obtaining coal gas consisting in passinga mass of coal downward through a retort, subjectin the mass tocarbonization in the retort w ile so regulating the heatin action thatthe temperature at which car onization is effected is progressivelyincreased from the upper end of the retort downward, repeatedly changingthe direction of movement of the mass in process of being carbonizedwhile contracting the crosssectional area of the descending mass towardthe end of its travel through the retort, the changing of direction beininitiated before the hottest zone is reache ,discharging at the lowerend of the retort the coke produced, and withdrawing the gas practicallyfree from tar.

2. Aprocess of obtaining coal gas consisting in passing a mass of coaldownward through a retort, subjecting the mass to carbonization in theretort while so regulating the heatingaction that the temperature atwhich carbonization is effected is rogressively increased from the upperen of the retort downward, repeatedly changing the direction ofmovement, of tho masr: in proc- In iosfimony when-hf I have signed myQss of being carlmnizml and at thv mime time name to this spevificntionin the presence of 10 com acting the Lil0F '0vli0lln1 :u'va ofltiu; twnsubscribing witnesses.

descendilw mass t()\\'ill'ii tho imvvi' 0m 0 Y 1 the retort? thechanging n1 (iiitlfliflll living ALEXANDLR \VADDELL- initiated bvfm'vthe hottest 7.0110 is reached, \Vitnessos:

and \vithdrmving gas at =1 point mwiml the WALLACE CRAXSTON FAIRWEATHER,lower end of the retort. IIENRY MASON.

